Whetstone deserve much credit, says Kay

Neasden made a dream start as Sherman, playing up front for the club for the first time, found the target three times on a bumpy and muddy pitch that did not suit Whetstone's fluid passing game.

With the rain lashing down, NWN's physical approach paid dividends as the hosts registered twice in the opening 15 minutes, and it looked as though Whetstone were overawed by their opponents and the occasion.

Whetstone were forced into a reshuffle, with joint-player-maanger Clive Nathan introduced at centre back to "look after NWN's very big frontman". He did the job perfectly from then on not putting a foot wrong to give the visitors a lifeline.

There then followed a dramatic turnaround in the second half as ACW dominated. In scenes reminiscent of the famous Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan in Istanbul, ACW got themselves back in the tie when midfielder Dan Brennan capitalised on a fumble by the NWN keeper to slot home.

With the bit between their teeth, the ACW kids were rampaging forward and a second goal soon followed. A lovely passing move involving the ACW captain and no. 10 Dan Cohen saw the latter set up Sammy Huberman to smash past the keeper from just inside the penalty box.

The momentum was now clearly with ACW and a dramatic equaliser arrived with 15 minutes to go when striker Alon Pinhas was brought down 25 yards from goal. From a central position, Cohen stepped up a curled a wicked free-kick literally millimetres below the bar to spark scenes of wild celebration.

Although NWN did well to hang on for the last 15, they had a great chance which saw ACW keeper Ben Pollins flying to his right to tip a shoot from inside the area around the post to take the match to extra-time.

Edwards saved NWN's blushes with a deflected effort in the first period - a corner was headed out and the centre half sent a speculative goalwards. A defelction caught the strike to changing direction just enough to put it past Ben Pollins, although the valiant keeper still managed to get a hand on it.

Clive Nathan still had a chance to take it to penalties in the second period of extra-time as a long throw from Ethan Davies bounced through to him in the six-yard box, but not realising how much time he had, instead of bringing it down and shooting, he nodded it into the keeper’s grateful hands.

NWN boss Stirling Kay told JC Sport: "At half-time, it was men against boys. We were three up and, with better finishing, we could've had may more.

"The second half was a disaster, with me making three changes allowing all the subs to have a run out. This was bad management on my behalf because it threw us out of our stride.

"Credit to Whetstone for keeping going, but all three goals came from lack of concentration and errors from us.

"Thankfully we held our nerve and claimed the victory our first half dominance deserved, but credit to Whetstone and, especially, their 50-year-old centre half who was superb and kept his team going throughout."

AC Whetstone joint-manager Anthony Cohen told JC Sport: "It definitely looked like men versus boys, but the boys had a great time playing with smiles on their faces – NWN certainly knew they had been in a game and I think if honest would realise how lucky they were to come through with a deflected winner in extra-time.

"NWN were a good strong team, very organised and played fairly throughout. The game was played in a great spirit both teams putting the ball out for injuries. The premier league team know they were in a real game today."